Glass-cutter.



G. T. MOORE.

GLASS CUTTER.

rum-non mum numo, 1913.

1,101,032, Patented June 23, 1914.

ifl I III I a W1 NESSEQ INVENTOR 1:" win! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. MOORE, OF LANCASTER, OHIO, ASSIGNOR- TO THE COLUMBUS GLASS COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.

GLASS-CUTTER.

Application filed February 20. 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. Moonn, of Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Glass-Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in glass cutters and particularly for capping ofi' glass cylinders by means of an electrically heated wire.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple device that may be readily manipulated by one hand, to maintain the wire in contact with the glass, take up the slack caused by expansion of the heated wire and control the passage of the electric current through the wire.

A further object is to provide means whereby the entire circumference of the cylinder will be exposed to contact with the wire, and also means whereby the slack will be taken up from both ends simultaneously.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in a support carrying two drums, one for each end of the wire, and means for actuating them simultaneously whereby they are rotated in unison to wind at both ends of the wire.

My invention further consists in a support carrying insulated sheaves to support the wires at the crossing point and two drums actuated by the same means for simultaneously taking up the wire at both ends of the latter.

My invention further consists in two winding drums and a single means for rotating them in unison.

My invention further consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Serial No. 749,670.

showing the insulated sheaves at the point where the wires cross. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the ratchets, its drum and its actuating mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a view in section of the sheaves, interposed insulation and spring actuated slide carrying the latter.

1 represents a substantially T-shape frame, which may be made of any non-conducting material, and of a size to be conveniently gripped and manipulated with one hand. The member 2 of the frame constitutes the handle, while the cross-member 3 carries the drums and connected ratchet wheels. The drums 4 and ratchet wheels 5, are preferably made integral, the ratchet wheels forming the rear flanges of the drums, and they are mounted to rotate on pins 6 secured to the cross-member 8 at opposite sides of the handle 2.

8 is a finger piece mounted to slide back and forth in a slot formed in the handle adjacent to the cross-piece. The two ends of the finger piece rest against the front face of the cross-member, and are overlapped by the ratchet wheels 5, and it is provided adjacent its ends with the spring actuated pawls 9, which latter rest in contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheels. The finger piece or slide 8 is provided on its rear face with a bracket 10 to which one end of the spring 11 is secured, the opposite end of said spring being connected to bracket 12 secured to the handle 2, and operating to yieldingly hold the finger piece 8 at one extreme of its movement.

In the operation of the device, the operator grasps the handle with his left hand, with his index finger passing through the opening 13 in the finger piece 8 adjacent one end of the latter, and as the finger piece is moved, by the finger, the pawls 9 thereon ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheels. \Vhen the finger piece is released from the pull of the finger. the spring 11 pulls it back to normal position. and as the awls are then in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheels. the latter will turn and wind up the ends of the wire or electric conductor. The ratchet wheels are retained against backward or reverse rotation by the spring pressed dogs 14 carried by the crossmember 3 of the frame 1.

The outer edge of the cross-member 3 is concaved to conform to the curvature of the glass cylinder, and is provided centrally with the two parallel sheaves 15 over which the wire passes. These sheaves project in front of the cross-member so as to permit the wire thereon to make contact with the cylinder, and the two sheaves are separated and electrically insulated from each other by sheets of mica 16, which latter are carried by the sliding holder 17 mounted in the guides 18 and pressed outwardly by the spring 19.

The drums 4 are electrically connected with conductors located within the handle 2 and cross-member 3, and the said conductors are connected to wires which pass into the handle through the free end thereof, a switch 20 being provided for controlling the current to the drums.

In the operation of the device a wire 21, of small diameter, so that it may be readily and quickly heated by a current of electricity, is wound around the two drums leaving a loop of sufficient size to embrace the cylinder. The wires at the crossing point rest on sheaves 15, which as before explained are insulated to prevent short circuiting. By now pulling the finger plece 8 rearwardly as previously explained, the pawls ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheels, and by releasing the pull on the finger piece, the spring 11 moves the latter forwardly and rotates the drums by the engagement of the pawls 9 with the teeth of the ratchet. If this single part rotation of the drums does not take up all the slack in the wire, and put the latter under tension, the operation is repeated until all the slack has been taken up, and the wire is under tension from spring 11. By now turning on the current the conductor becomes heated and of course expands, but as the wire is under the tension of the spring 11, the expansion is taken up instantly and automatically. This heated wire in contact with the glass causes a rupture of the cylinder on the line of the heated wire. As soon as the separation takes place, the current is cut off and the loop expanded and slid along the cylinder to position for the next cut. By making the wires cross, as they do at the sheaves 15, contact is made between the wire and the cylinder through the entire circumference of the latter, thus heating the cylinder all the way around and avoiding the necessity of shifting the wire in order to apply heat to a part not originally heated, and also doing away with tapping the cylinder adjacent the wires to effect a separation. To again apply the device to a cylinder the wire loop is simply passed over the latter at one end and slid along to the proper point after which the slack is taken up and the current again applied as previously explained.

It is evident that changes in the construc tion and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but,

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a glass cutter, the combination of a supporting frame, two drums thereon. a wire carried by said drums and a device actuated in one direction by a spring for rotating both drums simultaneously.

2. In a glass cutter, the combination of a supporting frame, two drums thereon, a wire carried by said drums and a device actuated in one direction by a spring for rotating both drums and for holding the wire under tension when applied to a cylinder.

In a glass cutter, the combination of a frame. two drums thereon, a wire carried by said drums, a ratchet wheel connected with each drum, a sliding finger piece, a spring for moving the latter in one direction, pawls carried by the finger piece and engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheels and means carried by the frame for preventing backward rotation of the ratchet wheels and drums.

4. In a glass cutter, the combination of a frame. two drums thereon, a wire, the ends of which are connected to the drums, a spring actuated sliding member having means engaging the drums whereby the wire will be held under spring tension, and connection for sending a current of electricity through the wire for heating the latter.

5. In a glass cutter, the combination of a frame comprising a handle, and a cross member for the drums, two drums mounted on said cross member at opposite sides of the handle, a spring actuated device carried by the frame for rotating both drums simultaneously, a wire secured at its ends to said drums, and insulated devices located between the drums and in the plane of the handle for supporting the wire at the crossing point.

6. In a glass cutter, the combination of a frame, two drums thereon, an electric conductor the ends of which are secured to the drums, a spring actuated device for rotating the drums simultaneously, sheaves inspecification in the presence of two subterposed between the drums for supporting scribing Witnesses.

the electric conductor at the crossin oint, 1 insulating material separating the h aives, CHALLES MOORE and a movable holder carrying said insulat- \Vitnesses: ing material. F. \V. ACTON,

In testimony whereof, I have signed this L. WV. MARKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

